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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Energy Committee - 05/04/2017 South Burlington Energy Commiee 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 846-4106 www.sburl.com facebook.com/SouthBurlington Approved Meeting Minutes May 4, 2017 Committee members present: Marcy Murray (Chair), Keith Epstein, Patty Tashiro, Jeremy King, James Mount, Don Cummings, Sam Swanson (scribe) Committee members absent: Karen Mckenny, Fred Kosnitsky, Linda McGinnis Community members present: Grant Taylor, Kyle Hutchins Invited guests from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission staff: Eleni Churchill (Transportation Program Manager), Melanie Needle (Senior Planner), and Peter Keating (Senior Transportation Planner) Meeting Convened – Marcy convened the meeting and appointed Sam as scribe. April 6 meeting minutes – the Energy Committee (EC) discussed and revised the draft minutes for the April 6 meeting. James moved and Keith seconded to approve the amended minutes, which the EC then voted unanimously to approve. Comments from the Public Grant Taylor reported that he is investigating actions that may be taken in South Burlington to reduce the fossil fuel energy used to serve our community transportation needs. Members of our Energy Committee (EC) advised that City Councilor Tom Chittenden, the City liaison to Green Mountain Transit, may be a helpful resource for understanding what public transportation issues are now being addressed. Net –Zero City Center Update Keith reported on a meeting with City staff to consider planning the development of the new SB City Center to meet net-zero energy goals. The meeting included three members of the EC, Keith, Marcy, and Don, and two City staff, City Manager Kevin Dorn and Ilona Blanchard. City Councilor Helen Riehle and three Efficiency Vermont representatives also attended. Keith reported that Kevin, while supportive of the net-zero goals, expressed the importance of ensuring that introducing this goal in the City Center design and development not delay the development of the City Center. Such a delay could put TIF financing at risk. Don reported that he has followed up on this and a subsequent meeting with Fred, Keith and Marcy by developing project charters for a two-phase approach to addressing net-zero goals in SB development. The first phase would address achieving net-zero goals in the development of components of the City Center that have not yet completed the design stage of development. The second phase would address achieving net-zero goals in new construction in the other parts of SB, again focusing on projects that have not yet completed the design stage of development. In the next few days Don will circulate his two-phase net-zero project charters to EC members for their review and comment. EC members should send their comments and level of interest in working on this project to Keith by Friday, May 12. The EC expects to discuss the comments and further steps at the June EC meeting. CCRPC staff presentation of transportation-related opportunities Eleni Churchill led the CCRPC presentation of transportation planning process, issues, and actions that the EC may want to connect with to develop an action plan for improving transportation energy efficiency and increasing transportation use of renewable energy. They provided copies of the slide presentation that framed the presentation. They also distributed a copy of the April 30, 2017, draft memorandum from the CCRPC that was addressed to the SB Energy Planning Commission, City Council, and Director of Planning and Zoning Paul Connor. The April 30 memo provides an update on energy planning in Chittenden County. The discussion with the CCRPC staff focused on the EC’s interest in developing local action to advance progress toward the statewide energy goal of meeting 90 percent of our energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2050. In response to EC requests, the CCRPC staff offered to provide examples of land development regulations that municipalities may adopt that would encourage the development of park and ride and/or intercept facilities. The CCRPC staff also will provide examples of landowner agreements that establish park and ride facilities. The CCRPC urged us to consider extending our reputedly successful energy efficiency education work to encouraging people to use public transit and private electric vehicles (EVs). Treasurer’s Report – Marcy reported that the EC funds now total approximately $10,000. This includes approximately $1,000 that remain in the City’s General Fund FY2017 budget for the Committee. Marcy reported that Ilona Blanchard has advised that, although the carrying over of funds from one fiscal year to another is discouraged, the City will allow the Committee to transfer (“accrue”) the June 30th balance in its General Fund budget (currently $1,075.67) to its FY2018 budget given that we are in the process of determining our future focus after having transitioned out of the just completed well-funded Energy Prize campaign. Project updates Members reviewed accomplishments, help needed, and plans for the next month. Additional project discussions are noted here: · Sam reported on the April 27 meetings hosted by the Vermont Natural Resources Council with leaders in the Vermont House of Representatives and Senate. Sam was joined by members of energy committees from ten additional VT municipalities. The purpose of the meetings was to introduce energy-issue leaders in the Vermont Legislature to the work that municipal energy committees where doing. · Keith noted that he was representing the City on the CCRPC committee addressing energy siting in Chittenden County. Sam agreed to represent the EC in working with the City Planning Commission and Director of Planning and Zoning to identify preferred City locations for new solar generation projects. The CCRPC has requested that the City identify these locations by the end of June. Committee’s future focus – Marcy led a discussion of EC priorities for the next few months. She invited members and guests from the community to identify a major priority each believed the EC should address over the next several months—priorities that each of us also is willing to work on. The proposals offered focus on two major subject areas: advancing the net-zero energy goal with supporting action and improving transportation energy efficiency and renewable energy usage. Marcy recorded the suggestions from discussion participants and will circulate the results for further consideration at the EC June meeting. Other business Members considered requests and opportunities regarding Green-up Day, the Community Energy Dashboard, and the Multi-Mayor Multi-Modal Tour. Next scheduled meeting Thursday, June 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at the South Burlington Police Station (19 Gregory Drive • middle entrance). EC Vice Chair James Mount will lead the meeting because Committee Chair Marcy Murray will be unable to attend. The meeting adjourned by 9 PM.